192 



collected in flocks throughout the country and subsequently departed. 

 The general direction of the flights, where recorded, seems to have 

 been towards the south-east or south, while at Winsccmbe in Somerset, 

 where a more or less continuous stream of migration was noted during 

 this period, the line of flight was due east, influenced probably by the 

 Mendip Hills. On the 12th and 18th flocks of Swallows were observed 

 leaving the Suffolk coast, but unfortunately the direction in which they 

 were travelling was not recorded. 



Although it was not possible to trace each migratory flock from its 

 starting point to its exit from the English coast, there was some evidence 

 to show that the migrations were performed gradually, the flocks halting 

 at suitable places on their journey sometimes for only a few hours, at other 

 times for a day or two. It was evident from the observations received 

 that local conditions, such as lateness of the broods or otherwise and 

 coldness of the weather, had a distinct influence on their departure, for 

 though in some districts of a county the dates closely corresponded, in 

 other parts of the same county they varied. 



Flocks were observed migrating south at the Nab Lt.-v. (Hants) on 

 the 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th of September, on the 25th they were 

 also seen off Folkestone (Kent), and on the 28th at the Nab and Varne 

 Lt.-vs., while on the nights of the 28th and 29th a few took part in the 

 large emigration noticed at St. Catherine's Lt. (Isle of Wight). 



The migratory movements seem to have reached their greatest mag- 

 nitude during the last ten days of September and the first fortnight of 

 October, but after that date the movements and the numbers of birds 

 in each movement greatly diminished, and in the more northern 

 counties migration had practically ceased by that date. Further south, 

 however, a small amount of movement continued till the end of the 

 month, and the few birds noted in November were all observed on the 

 south coast. 



This species was noted going south at the Varne Lt.-v. on October the 

 3rd, 5ih, 6th, 7th, and 9th ; at the Gull Lt.-v. (Kent J and at the Varne 

 Lt.-v. on the 12th; at Dungeness Lt. and the Varne Lt.-v. on the 13th . 

 and at the Nab Lt.-v. on the 14th. On the 17th numbers were recorded 

 crossing the Channel to the S.S.W. off Southampton, while at the Varne 

 Lt.-v. on the 21st, and at Dungeness Lt. on the 25th and 26th ; this 

 species was again recorded. 



It is worthy of note that this species was observed leaving the English 

 coast in Suffolk, Kent, Plants and Devon ; and although it is certain 

 that a great number of birds passed across the Channel from Kent, it 

 seems probable that they also depart along the whole length of the 

 southern coast as far west as Devon. 



There was no evidence of any immigration on the east coast. 



